These three pieces of home gym equipment are all you need to start your fitness journey

When COVID-19 hit in 2020 I was going to a group training gym and had recently lost 100 pounds. I was terrified that all my progress would be wiped when the gym closed but I was also determined not to let that happen.

I had been lifting and running a lot in preparation for a Spartan obstacle course race. I knew I needed to keep up my workout routine to maintain the strength and endurance I had built.

Unfortunately, funds and space were limited, so I had to get creative. I looked at Facebook marketplace and Amazon and settled on three pieces of home gym equipment that I thought were versatile, affordable, and would help me reach my goals.

I found a TRX suspension training system on Facebook marketplace for $100 (it’s close to $300 brand new but easy to find used). I also bought a 25lb slam ball and a sandbag that could hold up to 40lbs on Amazon.

These three pieces of equipment started my home gym and I still use them regularly, four years later. They're compact, versatile and beginner-friendly. You can currently get the for less thanks to Black Friday fitness deals.

TRX suspension training system

I love the TRX system because you can do so many things with it, including full-body strength workouts, HIIT and yoga. All you need is somewhere to anchor it and space underneath to move freely, but the equipment itself takes up very little room.

There is an app to go with it if you need motivation and guidance. I use it for movements like inverted rows, modified pull-ups, biceps curls, triceps extensions, chest and back flys, and various hamstring movements.

Slam ball

This simple but mighty piece of equipment is perfect for a home gym. Yes, you can slam it against a wall, but you can also press it overhead, hold it while doing core workouts, and use it to add extra load to movements like squats and lunges.

There are various weights available; pick one based on both your current abilities and goals.

Sandbag

A sandbag may sound like a weird piece of equipment for your workout, but I've found them incredibly useful (especially the ones with handles). You can use them to perform moves like deadlifts, cleans, weighted squats, lunges, overhead presses, rows and carries.

The bags themselves usually come without weight and have a range for how much they can hold. All you need to do is buy a bag of sand to fill it to your desired weight.